BEND, OR -- Habitat for Humanity is building nine homes on Bend's west side, after nearly two years' worth of working with the city. Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity Director of Development Robin Cooper-Engle says this project will create cottage-style houses near NW College Way, "The homes are generally smaller than a typical single family home. The homes at the Northwest Cottage site will probably be 900 to 1,000 - a little over 1,000 sq ft." The new neighborhood will also have a community center, pet park and common space. 

In the last few years, Habitat has had to do more land development before construction can begin, and Cooper-Engle says that doesn't always keep things affordable, "Land is such a challenge for us, and so, to be able to serve families, at this site, it's just going to be amazing. It's such a great location, people can walk to so many things, and have access to so much, we're not far from the community college and OSU, and so it's going to be great." The site will eventually feature 11 homes, but nine will be built with the help of future homeowners who earn 40-80% of the area median income. "They’re working in our community," Cooper-Engle tells KBND News, "Many of the families that we serve have children, but some don't. Some are older and single, some are younger and just married. so, it's just a variety of folks that will go in there."  

Site prep is underway; a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony was held last week (pictured above). Cooper-Engle admits it's taken a while to get things off the ground, "We're getting close. It's pretty exciting." She adds, "We will probably officially see things going vertical closer to the fall, with families being able to move in next year."

Habitat also breaks ground this week on two more homesites in northeast Bend, on Indigo Lane.